okay, so we have this sweet young thang named emma, who is our delightful
shoe model for the following tutorials! (base for emma coming straight
from the brilliant dropkick
dolls) these aren't REALLY tutorials as such, rather a
sort of example of how to make shoes in four steps...

okay, we're ready and raring to go so :

how to draw thongs (flip flops):

step one: drawing out the basics... just draw in
the sole and where it would go if it were real shoes - these being
thongs, when one foot is raise as it is here, the sole would prbably
stay on the ground and the toe would go up... this tutorial is
completely done with the pencil tool, so anyone can follow thsi
exactly ;)

step two: sticking in a bit of detail, just think about where
the toes are and where the straps would disappear between the
toes of the foot...

step three: soing some shading and fixing up things
that don't look 'quite right' - with some zooming in and out I
decided that the sole that was down didn't look exactly right
being so long and out as it was, so I selected an area, cut it
out and moved it back a notch so that it looked more perspectively
correct. here I've also added in some bright coloured highlights
to add depth to the shoes

finally,
just add in the extra details, and any embellishments that you
may have! here I thought the thongs were a little plain so I added
some flowers that match emma's robe ;)

how to draw dowdy lace-ups:

step one: drawing out the basics... okay, so these
are big ol' chinky lace-ups, that could be determined 'dowdy'
but could look REALLY cuet when combined with the right outfit.
first off you've got to work out exactly how it would sit on the
foot, draw the outline to follow suit and then fill it in with
the corresponding colour.

step two: sticking in a bit of detail, again, thinking where
the toes would go, and how the foot is sitting etc, here I;ve
aksi added a thicker sole to the shoe...

step three: okay, so here I've done my shading
with the paintbrush - just choosing the next colour that I want
fo make highlights, and then placing it on the shoe - remembering
where the light and shine would go - as well as where the shoe
would fade the most/first etc...

you can of course also do this with the pencil tool, but in order
to get teh smooth like that I'm after these days, I'm using the
paintbrush...

finally,
adding in the details, the laces, the gold lace-holes etc - don't
forget shadow to add depth to the shoes as well. and there you
have it, lace up shoes on emma - here she's nt wearing any socks,
and they do look cute with her robe and the pen & encil in
her hair kinda like se rolled out of bed to answer the door and
these are the first things she threw on... ;)

okay, first off, work out how chunkyy you want these, and hoe
well yuov'e got them hugging the legs - also, how far UP the leg
you want! draw the shape with care, and then fill with your desired
colour.

step two: adding in more detail. okay, I thought the otehr
grey was going to be WAAAY too light, so I changed it, and I drew
in the soles - her I've drawn them sorta flat and hangy out -
like these are a pair of really well worn doc martyns or something
similar...

step three: again, I've done the shading with the
paintrbush, it's just easier and faster to get the desired effect
that I want - here I've used three different highlight colours
to add depth and shine to the boots.

just focus on where the light would hit, where you would get the
most 'damage' to the shoe, and the kind of line you would get
when the shoe wraps around the leg...

finally,
the end details! I've put in yellow stiitching, added highlights
to the soles, and stuck in black laces and gold lace holes, and
put an extra bit of shading and gradation on each yelloe dot to
add even more depth and illusion of wear to the shoes: now doesn't
she look funky with those boots and the length of that skirt!
::laughs::